When people read that someone has been arrested for drug trafficking, they likely think of police raiding a home or a warehouse filled with drugs. They probably picture police moving out hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, heroin or other serious drugs. What they probably don't think of are two young men being charged with trafficking illegal drugs after being caught with relatively few drugs.
Unfortunately for two men from Hamilton, the Ontario Provincial Police have found just enough drugs to bring drug trafficking charges. The detective sergeant who spoke with the CBC has even admitted that the amount of drugs confiscated was quite small, but it apparently is enough to bump charges up to the more serious drug trafficking.
Police said they raided a home in Hamilton Mountain last week during which they found anabolic steroids, LSD, OxyContin and methamphetamines. It is not immediately clear how these two young men, aged 26 and 27, were connected to either the raids, the homes or the drugs. Should police and the Crown be unable to demonstrate that both of these young men owned these drugs, they will be unable to convict them on the one count of production of a controlled substance and six counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Though it may not seem that serious, being convicted of trafficking illegal drugs comes with very serious penalties. Risking one's freedom, ability to travel abroad or finances by defending oneself in court may seem foolish to many. Using a criminal defence lawyer to clear one's name may be the more prudent choice, especially when it comes to navigating the complex Canadian criminal justice system.
Source: CBC News, "Another suspected steroid lab raided Wednesday," Jeff Green, April 17, 2014